The San Francisco-based company, which also operates Old Navy and Banana Republic stores, said earnings were $249 million, or 27 cents a diluted share. In the year-ago period, the Gap posted an operating loss of $34 million, or 4 cents a share.

The company said fourth-quarter sales rose 14 percent, to $4.65 billion.

Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, rose 8 percent. They declined 16 percent in the year-ago period. Same-store sales, which are considered a key indicator of a retailer's health, increased at each division, with the strongest gain at Old Navy.